Pope Francis says Sri Lanka needs to face truth to achieve unity

(Photo: REUTERS / Stefano Rellandini)Pope Francis wears a saffron-coloured robe as he sits next to Hindu Ndu-Kurukkal SivaSri T. Mahadeva (R) and Buddhist monk Ittapane Dhammalankara (L) during the Interreligious Encounter at the Bmich in Colombo January 13, 2015. Pope Francis called on Sri Lanka to uncover the truth of what happened during its bloody civil war as part of a healing process between religious communities, as he arrived in Colombo a few days after the island's wartime leaders were voted out.

The process of healing in Sri Lanka following decades of conflict needs to include the pursuit of truth, Pope Francis has said on his arrival on the south Asian island nation.